Landing net



Dec. 9, 1952 R. L. E. DELCEY LANDING NET Filed April 25. 1949 R w m w my m m Patented Dec. 9, 1952 .oFFicE LANDING IN ET :Raymond Louis Eugene Delcey, Gray, France Application April '25, 1949, SerialfNo. 89,423 In France May 20, 1948 8 Claims. (Cl. 43--,12)

My invention has :ior its object an improved fish-landing device of a collapsible type that may be readily released and put into the desired working position.

The primary object of my invention includes a system of two tubes, one tube sliding telescopically within the other, the outer tube serving as a grip while the inner tube is Provided with an inner slide enclosing one .end portion of two angularly set net-carryin arms adapted to be folded against each other against the action of a. spring so that the inner tube may be urged inwardly of the outer tube together with the folded arms against the action of a. further spring until a catch engages the inner tube and the slide to hold them in their retracted positions; this catch is subsequently released by hand so that the inner'tube and slide project forwardly and allow at the end of their stroke the net-carrying arms to expand again as soon as they have passed out of the-outer tube. Furthermore, the difierent parts of the device are easily obtained and many of them may be produced through the cutting out and pressing of suitable blanks.

I have illustrated in accompanyin drawings a preferred embodiment of my invention that I will nowv describe with further detail. In said drawmgs:

Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically the landing device in its released operative position, with the actual net carrier expanded;

Fig. 2 is a .detail longitudinal sectional view of the innertelescopic tube in its retracted position inwhich it is held by a catch, said figure being a cross section through line 2-2 of Fig.

- Fig. is a cross-section through line 3-3 of Fig.- 1 showing thehead carrying the collapsible arms to which the net is secured;

Fig. 4, is a longitudinal cross-sectional of the head and adjacent part of the inner telescopic tube through line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a general view of the device in its collapsed position.

The device illustrated includes chiefly a cylindrical outer tube or sleeve I made preferably of metal and provided at its outer end with a handle or grip 2. A second metal tube 3 is telescopically carried inside the first tube l. The end of the inner tube 3 that is remote from the grip 2, is rigid with a head 5 assuming an outwardly flaring shape, as readily apparent from inspection of Figs. land 4. The surface of said head 5 facing outwardly is thus provided with a flaring recess against the walls of which the two arms 4, 4' of a net-carrying fork are normally urged by elastic means; said elastic means are preferably constituted, as :shown :in Fig. -;4,, by a :bent blade spring .l.2,the ends of which are secured to the innerends of the corresponding fork arms 4, 4', while its medial section is fitted over a rubber pad I3 held in position by .an axial rivet .14 .the ends of which are fitted inside a slide-ll adapted to slide inside the outer end of the tube 3,-1as, shown-diagrammatically, said outward sliding movement of the slide being stopped by the abutment formed by the longitudinal rib d :on the head 5. The interposed rubber pad I3 carried by the slide engages the rib d on the head .anddam-ps the opening movement of the arms. V The forward movement of the inner tube 3with reference to the outer tube I is provided by the thrust exerted by a spring-u.- housed inside the tube't3 between the rear-transverse wall llof the slide and the .closed outer end i of the outer tube I. Said spring it acts first on the slide and then, through the latter abutting against the rib d, on the system including the tube 3 and the slide 1 I. On the other hand, there. are provided at e, e, cooperating openings in the wall of the inner tube and of the slide I I and, when the tube is in its retracted position .illustratedin Fig. 2,. a catch 8 .is adapted to engage said openings 6, e, as shown in Fig. 2, to preventforward movement of the tube 3 and slide l I; said catch 8 forms part of a spring catch and trigger arrangement comprising a small lever 6 pivotally carried by a strap i rigid with the sleeve or outer tube I and the outer end of which is rigid with a trigger 9 projeeting out of the casing 6' rigid with the outer tube 1 and enclosing the spring catch and trigger arrangement. A spring III also enclosed inside said casingfi urges the lever B into its operative tube-engaging position illustrated in Fig. 2. In order to prevent, upon release of the catch 8, the inner tube 3 from being projected beyond the desired position, a check of any description is :provided that is constituted e. g. by an annular collar b rigid with the outside of the inner tube and and adapted to impinge, when the spring a urges the inner tube forwardly, against the inner annulus c rigid with the outer tube I.

Turning to the detail of the head 5 illustrated more particularly in Figs. 3 and 4, it is apparent that said head is'formed by two plates 3a. and 31) arranged in superposed spaced relationship to either side of the longitudinal axis of the device and fitted together by meansof screws 5'. Between these plates and inside the outwardly flaring recess referred to hereinabove and formed by the side flanges 30, 3d of the plates 3a and 3b respectively extending across the gap between the plates 30., 3b, are housed the arms 4,4, of the net-carrying fork that are connected with each other by the spring blade l2, as already described. A T-shaped locking member [5 is adapted to be shifted transversely inside the head 5 to engage and release as required the lateral surfaces of the arms 4, 4. Normally, springs 15a urge the transverse portion of the T-piece 15 against said sides of the arms 4, 4' as illustrated in Fig. 3. When it is desired to fold the arms 4, 4' as described hereinafter, it is necessary to make the T-shaped member 15 release the arms 4, 4' against the action of the spring 15a, and this is obtained by the operator through depression of a knob l6 rigid with the medial limb g of the T-piece; this depression of said knob 16 into the recess it provided in the plate 3a, causes the main transverse portion of the T-shaped member l5 to move into the recess f formed inside the other plate 31) between the flanges thereof, whereby the arms 4, 4' may be freely folded against the action of the spring l2 as described hereafter.

The ends 4a, 4a of the fork arms 4, 4 have the shape illustrated in Fig. l, i. e. they are bent towards each other. It is an easy matter to fit a net on the fork formed by these two parts 4, 4 by making use of the flexible strand l1 connecting them and two sets of loose rings [8 carried respectively by the two arms 4, 4'. Two further rings I9 are loosely mounted on the ends of the arms 4a, 4a so that the net is held firmly along both sides thereof through the agency of said rings I8 and I9.

The operation of the landing device is as follows:

The landing device being in its collapsed position illustrated in Fig. 2, the operator depresses the trigger 9, so as to release the inner tube 3 and slide H which latter is urged outwardly by the spring a and then draws along with it the tube 3; the fork 4, 4' is released and expands inside the'head 5 as soon as the said fork has passed beyond the front end of the inner tube. The fork arms expand thus laterally to occupy the position illustrated in Fig. 4 in which they engage the walls of the flaring recess in the head '5 and also the locking member I5. Conversely, when the operator wishes to collapse the device into its inoperative position illustrated in Fig. 6, i

the operator merely depresses the knob 16 against the action of the spring l5a so as to release the pressure exerted by the locking member IE on the arms 4 of the fork, whereby it is possible to return said arms manually into substantial alignment of the axis of the tube 3 against the action of the blade spring l2 and then to urge also manually the system including the fork 4, 4' and slider H on one hand and the tube 3 on the other hand back into the tube against the action of the spring a; when the openings e, e in the tube 3 and slider ll come into register with the catch 8,-the nose of the latter snaps into engagement with said openings whereby said tube a d the slider with the fork 4, 4' are held securely in their retracted inoperative positions illustrated in Fig. 2.

The sleeve or tube I is provided to advantage with a flexible hook 20, as illustrated in Fig. 1, to allow the landing device to be suspended on a suitable carrier.

What I claim is:

1. A fish-landing device comprising two coaxial tubes slidably engaging each other, a grip rigid with the rear end of the outer tube, a slide mounted within the forward end of the innerv end of the outer tube to project beyond same,

said inner tube and slide having cooperating slots in the walls thereof, releasable locking means carried by a portion of the outer tube with which said slots register for the predetermined rear- 7 most positions to be occupied by said slide and inner tube, elastic means urging the locking means into engagement with the slot in the inner tube and slide to retain same in said innermost positions, hand-operable means for releasing the locking means, and a fish-engaging element including a medial elastic section carried by the front of the slide and two elongated sections secured'to either end of said medial section, the medial section urging the two last mentioned sections against the sidewalls of the recess in the head, said lateral sections being collapsible towards each other against the elasticity of the medial section into a common axial position with reference to the head to allow an inward movement of the sections of the fish-engaging element together with the slide inside the coaxial tubes against the action of the said spring means.

2. A fish-landing device comprising two coaxial tubes slida'bly engaging each other, a grip rigid with the rear end of the outer tube,'a slide slidably mounted within the forward end of the inner tube, a head rigid with the outer end of the inner tube and provided with an outwardly flaring recess and including a stop for the relative outward movement of the slide inside the inner tube, spring means fitted between the rear end of the outer tube and the slide and adapted to urge the slide towards the forward end of the inner tube and upon impact of the latter with the stop in the head to urge the slide and inner tube bodily towards the forward end of the outer tube to project beyond same, said inner tube and slide having cooperating slots in the walls thereof, releasable locking means carried by a portion of the outer tube with which said slots register for the predetermined rearmost positions to be occupied by said slide and inner tube, elastic means urging the locking means into engagement with the slotin the inner tube and slide to retain same in said innermost positions, hand-operable means for releasing the locking means, a fish-engaging element including a medial elastic section carried by the front of the slide and two elongated sections secured to either end of said medial section, the medial section urging the two last mentioned sections against the sidewalls of the recess in the head, said lateral sections being collapsible towards each other against the elasticity of the medial section into a common axial position with reference to the head to allow an inward movement of the sections of the fish-engaging element together with the slide inside the coaxial tubes against the action of the said spring means, a hand-releasable locking means laterally shiftable inside the head, and springs urging said locking means against the last-mentioned sections of the fishengaging element to hold --collapse.

assume them norm-ally against slidably mounted within the forward end of the imiertub'e, a head rigid with the outer end of the inner tube and provided with an outwardly flaring recess and including a stop .for the relative outward movement of the slid-einside the inner tube, spring means fitted between the rear end of the outer tube and the slide and adapted to urge the slide towards theforwa-rd end of the inner tube and upon impact of the latter with the stop in the head. to urge the slide and inner tube bodily towards the forward end of the outer tube to project beyond same, said inner tube and slide having cooperating slots in the walls thereof, a hand-operated catch pivotally secured to a point of the outer tube and adapted to register with said slots for the predetermined rearmost positions to be occupied by said slide and inner tube, elastic means urging the catch into engagement with the slots in'the inner tube and slide to retain same in said innermost positions, afish-engaging element including a. medial elastic section carried by the front of the slide, a sleeve of elastic materialinserted between the medial section and the slide, and two elongated sections secured to either end of said medial section, the medial section urging the two last men 'tioned sections against the sidewalls of the recess in the head, last mentioned sections being collapsible towards each other against the elasticity of the medial section into a common axial position with reference to the head to allow an inward movement of the sections of the fish engaging element together with the slide inside the coaxial tubes against the action of the said spring means.

4. A fish-landing device comprising two tubes each having forward and rear ends, one telescopically slidably mounted in the other, a, slide slidably mounted within the inner tube, spring means in the outer tube extending from the rear portion of the outer tube into the inner tube and urging the slide towards the forward end of said inner tube, a collapsible fish-engaging element carried by the slide, said inner and outer tubes having lateral openings in the wall thereof adjacent their rear ends and releasable locking means, carried by the corresponding end portion of the outer tube and operable when the slide is within the rear portion of the inner tube and the inner tube is telescoped within the outer tube, to extend through the registering lateral openings in the outer and inner tubes and engage the slide to retain the inner tube telescoped within the outer tube and to retain the slide at the rear end of the inner tube against the action of the spring means, and an abutment rigid with the front end of the inner tube defining the front end of the travel of the slide inside the inner tube, whereby further movement of the slide relative to the outer tube produced by the spring will cause the inner tube to move out of the forward end of the outer tube.

5. A fish-landing device comprising two tubes each having forward and rear ends, one telescopically slidably mounted in the other, a slide slidably mounted within the inner tube, spring means in the outer tube extending from the rear portion of the outer tube into the inner tube and urging the slide towards the forward end of said inner tube, a collapsible fish-engaging element '6 carried by the slide, said inner and outer tubes having lateral openings in the wall thereof adjacent their rear ends and releasable lockin means carried, by the corresponding end portion of-the outer tube, said locking means comprising a. lever pivoted between its ends and having an actuating member on one end, and a latch device on the other end, operable when the slide is within the rear portion of the inner tubeand the inner tube is telescoped within the outer tube, .to extend through the registering lateral openings in the outer and inner tubes and engage the slide to retain the inner tube telescoped within the outer tube and to retain the slide at the rear endof the inner tube against the action of the spring means, and an abutment rigid with the front end'of the inner tube defining the front end of the travel of the slide inside the inner tube, whereby further movement of the slide relative to the outer tube produced by the spring will cause the inner tube to move out of the forward end of the outer tube.

6. A fish-landing device comprising two tubes each having forward and rear ends, one telescopically slidably mounted in the othe'r,-a slide slidably mounted within the inner tube, spring means in the outer tube extending from the rear portion of the outer tube into the inner tube and urging the slide towards the forward end of said inner tube, a collapsible fish-engaging element carried by the slide, said inner and outer tubes having lateral openings in the wall thereof adjacent their rear ends and releasable looking I means carried by the corresponding end portion of the outer tube, said locking means comprising a lever pivoted between its ends and having an actuating member on one end, a latch device on the other end operable when the slide is within the rear portion of the inner tube and the inner tube is telescoped within the outer tube to extend through the registering lateral openings in the outer and inner tubes and engage the slide to retain the inner tube telescoped with-in the outer tube and to retain the slide at the rear end of' the inner tube against the action of the spring will cause the inner tube to move out of the forward endof the outer tube.

7. A fish-landing device comprising two tubes each having forward and rear ends, one telescopically slidably mounted in the other, a slide slidably mounted within the inner tube, spring means in the outer tube extending from the rear portion of the outer tube into the inner tube and urging the slide towards the forward end of said inner tube, a landing net, two arms carrying the sides of said net, means pivotally securing the inner ends of said arms to said slide and urging their outer ends apart, a head carried by the front end of the inner tube for supporting and guiding said net-carrying arms, means for releasably retaining said net-carrying arms in open position, said inner and outer tubes having lateral openings in the wall thereof adjacent their rear ends and releasable locking means carried by the corresponding end portion of the outer tube and operable when the slide is within the rear portion of the inner tube and the inner tube is telescoped within the outer tube to extend through the registering lateral openings in the outer and inner tubes and engage the slide to retain the inner tube telescoped within the outer tube and to retain the slide at the rear end of the inner tube against the action of the spring means, and an abutment rigid with the front end of the inner tube defining the front end of the travel of the slide inside the inner tube, whereby further movement of the slide relative to the outer tube produced by the spring will cease the inner tube to move out of the forward end of the outer tube.

8. A fish-landing device comprising two tubes each having forward and rear ends, one telescopically slidably mounted in the other, a slide slidably mounted within the inner tube, spring means in the outer tube extending from the rear portion of the outer tube into the inner tube and urging the slide towards the forward end of said inner tube, a landing net, two arms carrying the sides of said net, means pivotally securing the inner ends of said arms to said slide and urging their outer ends apart, a head carried by the outer end of the inner tube for supporting and guiding said net-carrying arms, yielding means interposed between said slide and head for damping the opening movement of said arms, said inner and outer tubes having lateral openings in the wall thereof adjacent their rear ends and releasable locking means carried by the corresponding end portion of the outer tube and operable when the slide is Within the rear portion of the inner tube and the inner tube is telescoped within the outer tube to extend through the registering lateral openings in the outer and inner tubes and engage the slide to retain the inner tube talescoped Within the outer tube and to retain the slide at the rear end of the inner tube against the action of the spring means, and an abutment rigid with the front end of the inner tube defining the front end of the travel of the slid in; side the inner tube, whereby further movement. of the slide relative to the outer tube produced:

by the spring will cause the inner tube to move out of the forward end of the outer tube,

RAYMOND LOUIS EUGENE DELCEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

